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Disclosure: I
participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free
copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for
incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Do you remember the special sound of the Dixie Chicks? I sure do and I was sad when they stopped making music together. Much to my delight, I found out that the sisters, Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson, created the Court Yard Hounds. They have a sound and style all their own with a similar flavor!

Their second album, Amelita, contains a different perspective than their debut in 2010 and defines who they are as artists and as a band. Their songs are personal, confident and hopeful. I love how they draw upon their experiences as women and how they add a bit of sass to their lyrics.

"I
love this band...the way we explore new aspects of ourselves and what
we can expect from each other, both musically and as people," says Martie. "We are close. Plus, being on the road and being in the studio is like my spa from the everyday challenges of just being a mom.”

Amelita Track Listing:

Sunshine

Amelita

The World Smiles

Aimless Upward

Guy Like You

Rock All Night

Phoebe

Divided

Gets You Down

Watch Your Step

The Road You Take

My favorite track is "Sunshine." I think we all know one of those people (or have even been that person at one time or another) who is a "Debbie downer".

"Hey, don't rain on my parade and kill a perfect day, wasting my time
Hey, you always find a way to bring me down when I feel fine
We call you sunshine."

My other favorite is "The World Smiles." I love the blue grass sound and uplifting message.Not only are the tunes catchy, but the lyrics are relatable both as a woman and as a mom. Amelita has definitely solidified my love of country, a little twang and pop all in one great package.

This is a sponsored VeggieTales post containing affiliate links.I have been a VeggieTales fan ever since my teenager was little. I have probably logged in a few hundred hours of VeggieTales viewing over the years as a parent and in my classroom as a teacher. I love their silly and catchy songs, humorous antics, great life messages and spiritual lessons! {I mean really, how can you not be amused by singing and dancing tomatoes and cucumbers?} And now I get to enjoy them all over again with my daughter and turn her into a Veggie Tales lover too.

We had a Summer Family Movie Night just me and the little lass the other evening.

The Attic Baby's favorite veggie is Bob, so we invited him along to watch.

MacLarry & The Stinky Cheese Battle boils down to two feuding groups of people, Barber-Barians and Romans who play pranks on each other like giving bad haircuts. MacLarry is trying to be like other Barber-Barians, but he's different and he doesn't want to disappoint his dad Chognorious{the leader of the Scottish clan}. He finds himself caught up in the messy cheese battle and well, you'll see what happens.

I couldn't help but crack up through most of the movie! Some of the jokes may be a little above wee ones' heads, but they are always family-friendly and involve fun word play. The Attic Baby's favorite part was the music and great songs!

And best of all, there's a great moral to the story: each person is special and it's okay to be who God made you to be. It also has great themes of how to get along with others and father-son relationships.

To go along with our Summer Family Movie Night, we downloaded free coloring pages and activities like "Build a Beard for Chog".All you need are crayons, some glue, and a few cotton balls. {You could also cut out Chog and glue him to a popsicle stick to make a puppet if you have them on hand}

There are other great activities to download like making Stinky Cheese Water Balls and munchies such as Stinky Cheese Rollups and Chog's Cheesy Snacks. We may try those next time as I'm sure we'll be watching this video {over and over} again!

Where to Buy:

You can pick up your copy of MacLarry and The Stinky Cheese Battle on DVD on Amazon.

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I know you (and your kids) probably don't want to hear those dreaded words: back-to-school. But the countdown is on and it's time to start thinking about getting our kids prepared to return to school. I'm proud to announce that I am a Boys and Girls Club (BGCA) Back-to-School Ambassador! I'm a huge supporter of organizations like BGCA that support children's education and teach kids to give back to their communities.I'll be sharing some great info. for you about BGCA's programs and some tips and resources to help prepare your children for success as they return to school.

For over 100 years, BGCA has provided a safe environment for children to go after school. Not only that, but they provide tutoring programs, much needed school supplies, health and life skills programs, and mentors that help kids achieve great futures. Today, there are over 4000 clubs that impact the lives of over 4 million boys and girls.

JCPenney Cares: Round Up CampaignDuring the month of July, when you checkout at JCPenney, you will be asked to round-up your purchase to the nearest whole dollar to donate to BGCA. BGCA receives 100% of the donations raised. So far this month, JCPenney has raised $682,847! In 2012, JCPenney was able to raise over one million dollars to BGCA, funding Club access grants and helping promote programs like Tools for Back to School. Isn't that amazing? Imagine what will happen this year!

Programs like this are vitally important for children to have the tools they need for academic success.

While you are doing your back to school shopping this month, consider rounding up your purchase at JCPenney and donate to a great cause. It may be just a few cents, but it can make a huge difference in the life of a child.

It's that time again! Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @Tots and Me and Emily @ Emily ReviewsSo glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups.

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways. And enter to win some great prizes!

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

Disclosure:
I received a copy of the book for review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No
other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Tommy
Nelson is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure
Policy.

One of this month's Tommy Nelson selections is a fun board book geared toward ages 1-7 that takes your little one through the alphabet: My ABC of God Loves Me. This not only teaches letter recognition, but also reinforces God's love for them with sweet rhymes.

A=God is amazingB= God's works are beautifulC=God is our creatorMy personal favorite is letter F: God is forgiving. So when we are rotten, if we say we're sorry, our wrongs are forgotten!This is a great board book that can travel along with your child; it has a take-along handle for little hands. The Attic Baby enjoys the colorful illustrations and repeating the letters of the alphabet. (we've been practicing the ABC song too). I love how she is also learning more about God's attributes and His love.

Just use the
Rafflecopter form below. You must be a US resident 18 or older to
enter.You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Giveaway Ends 8/10/13 at 12:01 AM EST. US Residents **18 and older**
only may enter. One entry per household and IP address. Winner will be
drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or
another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified. No purchase
necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries
received determines the odds of winning. The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.

Disclosure:
I received a copy of the book for review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No
other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Tommy
Nelson is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure
Policy.

Disclosure:
I received a copy of the book for review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No
other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Tommy
Nelson is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure
Policy.

In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader,
everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go
to school, and even get medical care—without it, you are on your own.
Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.

Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last
minute. Ever since, he’s been on the run from government agents and on a
quest to find his sister Lily, who disappeared when she went to get her
Mark five years earlier. His journey leads him to befriend the Dust, a
vast network of Markless individuals who dissent against the iron-grip
rule of the government. Along the way to the capital to find Lily, the
Dust receive some startling information from the Markless community,
opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that
humanity is now entering the End of Days.

In Storm, Logan and his friends are the leaders of the
Markless revolution. But while some Markless are fighting Chancellor
Cylis’ army, the Dust is busy trying to find a cure for a horrible
epidemic sweeping through the Marked. And it's difficult for them to
know who to trust, especially when they aren't sure if Logan's sister
Lily, one of the commanders in Cylis' army, is on their side or not. And
all across the nation—and the world—the weather has become less stable
and a storm is brewing that bigger than any of them could have ever
imagined.

My Son's Thoughts:

At first, it is a little confusing to get into the book because it is the third in the series. (My son definitely recommends you go back to the first two books for it to make more sense since he hadn't read any of the series before reading this) However, once you get into it, Storm is an exciting adventure with twists and turns and a big surprise ending. The plot is well thought out and the characters are very believable. The setting gives a lot of suspense to the book. While this is a dystopian series, it is not very similar to popular stories like the Hunger Games or the Left Behind Series. It deals with different issues within the apocalyptic "End Times" society and government without being preachy.

The way the book ended, you may find yourself getting upset with the author as my son did. However, it's still a very good ending leaving the reader wanting to read the next book.

Where to Buy: Storm is available on the Tommy Nelson website for $9.99.

Check out the other books in the series:

Giveaway:

One reader will win a copy of Storm

Just use the
Rafflecopter form below. You must be a US resident 18 or older to
enter.You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Giveaway Ends 8/11/13 at 12:01 AM EST. US Residents **18 and older**
only may enter. One entry per household and IP address. Winner will be
drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or
another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified. No purchase
necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries
received determines the odds of winning. The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.

Disclosure:
I received a copy of the book for review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No
other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Tommy
Nelson is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure
Policy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the bookfor review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. For more info. see my Disclosure Policy.

The Blessings Jar by Colleen Coble

Alexa Grace is having a bad day, but then Grandma arrives with something
special for "Grandma's Little Punky Grace"—an Ebenezer jar that she
thinks is very peculiar. Grandma explains that an Ebenezer is a “stone
of help” and represents God’s blessings. Alexa Grace wonders if she can
fill the jar with some of God’s blessings. She goes on the hunt with her
furry Newfoundland puppy and Grandma, and Alexa Grace's new blessing
jar soon overflows with God’s wonders.

Ever have one of those "grumpy" days where everything just seems bad? I know I have and so have my kids. This board book geared toward ages 2-5 helps children (and adults too) focus on the positive things around them rather than the negative ones.

Length wise, it isn't a short board book. If you have a two year old, you may want to read this when your child is the most alert to keep their attention span, rather than as a nighttime story.

My daughter enjoyed the beautiful illustrations, especially the puppy and the fact that Punky wears a tutu. We talked about the special things that Punky saw with her grammy. I think she related the grandmother to her own "Grammy" because her eyes lit up and she said "my grammy?" It will be wonderful to have my mom read this to her when she comes to visit.I love that Punky's grandmother helps her make a Blessings Jar so they can fill it with all of the positive blessings they encounter during their day! We all need that reminder to focus on our blessings, especially when life feels hard. It is also a great way to teach thankfulness in a way that little ones can understand. And it focuses on the special relationship that grandparents, especially grandmas, have with their grandkids.

Just use the
Rafflecopter form below. You must be a US resident 18 or older to
enter.You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Giveaway Ends 8/9/13 at 12:01 AM EST. US Residents **18 and older**
only may enter. One entry per household and IP address. Winner will be
drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or
another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified. No purchase
necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries
received determines the odds of winning. The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.

Disclosure:
I received a copy of the book for review purposes as as a Tommy Nelson Mommy. No
other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Tommy
Nelson is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure
Policy.

This week I'm co-hosting with Sarah at Journeys of the Zoo for Thursday's BlogLovin' Blog Hop. What's a BlogLovin' Blog Hop you say? It's a great way to discover new blogs and build up your own readership!

BlogLovin Hop

at Journeys of The Zoo!

Link up and make some new friends below!

1. Don't have a BlogLovin account?

Check out these step-by-step instructions by Fabulous Blogging and find out what the buzz is about.

2. Your Host...

Journeys of The Zoo documents
the trials and tribulations of daily life with two three-year olds.
Our posts focus on Canadian and charitable content, review and giveaways all with a side of
humour. We spend five months of the year travelling in our van with the whole
Family which also includes two dogs and a cat. Four of those months are spent
in Mexico and speak we Spanglish in our home. Never a dull
moment at The Zoo.

If you haven't already left a comment expressing your interest in co-hosting, please do so. There's plenty of room for everyone.

Disclosure:
I am a Fox Home Entertainment Insider. I received a copy of these DVD's for review purposes. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.My family is excited that Dragons: Riders of Berk Parts 1 & 2 are now available on DVD (July 23)! Part 1 contains a disc with episodes 1-11 and Part 2 features episodes 12-20. Both Parts contain discs with fun bonus content. Based on the DreamWorks Animation Academy
Award®-nominated hit movie How
to Train Your Dragon, the series features original voice talent from the
film including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Zack
Pearlman, and more.

We loved How to Train Your Dragon and are thrilled that they continued the story with this series! New dragons are revealed as the episodes progress and the trainers face new and fun challenges trying to train them. I love that there is a strong female character (Astrid) who can keep up with the boys. And there are great messages in the story lines: self-confidence, courage, opening lines of communication with parents, and getting along with others. The dragons might be a little scary for younger children (they do breathe fire afterall), but generally are pretty friendly. We're also enjoying the bonus features that show qualities about different types of dragons and behind-the-scenes on how the series is animated.

We're looking forward to the
new second season of DreamWorks’ Dragons Defenders of Berk this fall on
Cartoon Network. It's a great series to watch with the family!

School of Dragons Game

The two-part DVD set is jam-packed with special
features that dive deeper into the world of Dragons.As a bonus, each DVD comes with a code to
unlock an ultimate battle pack (select DVDs have an exclusive Whispering
Death or Thunderdrum dragon) for the DreamWorks’ School of Dragons game.School of Dragons lets players
enter the world of Berk, where Hiccup, Toothless and other friends help players
become the finest dragon trainers around.With cinema-like graphics and an immersive 3D world, it takes more than
courage to train a dragon, but brains as well. For more information, visit http://www.schoolofdragons.com.

Welcome to my attic!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm a busy former teacher {turned stay at home mom} on the hunt for ways to entertain my 3 kids. I love period dramas, all things Disney, and am passionate about getting kids interested in reading.

I enjoy writing about parenthood, entertainment, travel and local Philadelphia area attractions.

How was your spring break? We have spring fever here, expecting 80 degrees! Thanks for stopping by and checking out all the great g...

Disclosure

The Attic Girl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

This means that some posts may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you purchase through these links, which helps us create more great content! Full terms of use here.